Sports Award Evening 2009

Sports Specialists Celebrated in a First For the Academy

Darwen Aldridge Community Academy hosted its inaugural Sports Awards Evening on Wednesday the 24th of June, presented by ice-cool compere Chris Worthington of the Sports Department. The Academy’s secondary specialism was celebrated in fine style, with the Academy’s rising stars receiving their awards in front of the Principal and staff, their parents and friends, and some very special guests.

Jamie Edwards - a sports psychologist and author popular with the Academy students following his visit earlier in the year was first up, presenting a plethora of netball, basketball and football awards. Following an inspirational speech from Jamie, the audience were treated to a performance by the Essentially Dance students and a High School Musical snippet through the interval.

Dezzi Higginson, British Masters Welter Weight Boxing Champion resumed the prize-giving, with students collecting awards for rugby, hockey, dance, athletics and cricket. Heather Smith - Blackburn with Darwen Partnership Development Manager, staked a claim for the comedy moment of the night, when presenting Callum Ryan with the Sports Leadership Award. During the formalities, the audience anxiously watched as the glass bowl was dropped and subsequently bounced across the floor, somehow managing to remain in one piece! The biggest awards of the night were saved until last, as Victor Kasota, Alan McKeown, Gemma Hulme and Callum Ryan (all pictured) received their Special Sports Awards from Sally Ritchie, of the Aldridge Foundation.